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Education
Ph. D in Physics, Duke University 1999
B.S. in Electrical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 1993
B.S. in Physics, SUNY Albany 1993
Research Summary
The study of intact, living cells using non-invasive optical spectroscopic methods offers the opportunity to assess cellular structure and organization in a way that is not possible with traditional methods. We have developed a novel spectroscopic technique for diagnosing disease at the cellular level based on using low-coherence interferometry (LCI) to detect the angular distribution of scattered light. Angle-resolved LCI (a/LCI) enables quantitative measurements of changes in the size and texture of cell nuclei which are characteristic of pre-cancerous cells. We have used an animal carcinogenesis model to demonstrate that a/LCI can detect pre-cancerous changes in epithelial cells within intact tissue samples without the need for exogenous fixation or staining agents. The potential of a/LCI as a noninvasive means for investigating the development of pre-cancerous tissue states appears high. This technique also may provide a new screening tool for clinical diagnosis of the earliest stages of cancer.
Professional Experience
1990 – 1991 Laboratory Assistant, Advanced Materials Laboratory, State University of New York at Albany, Albany, NY
1994 – 1999 Research Assistant, Physics Department, Duke University, Durham, NC
1999 – 2002 Postdoctoral Research Associate, M.I.T., Spectroscopy Lab, Cambridge, MA
2002 – Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering Department, Duke University, Durham, NC
Honors and Professional Memberships
ORAU Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award
NIH Postdoctoral Fellowship
Whitaker Foundation Conference Fellowship
OSA travel award
Walter Gordy Fellowship
Preparing Future Faculty Fellowship
Member of Sigma Pi Sigma, Physics Honor Society, Eta Kappa Nu, Electrical Engineering Honor Society and the Optical Society of America
Personal web page: www.duke.edu/~apw2/
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